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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which word best describes Bassey’s demeanor?

2. What does Marion repeatedly insist to Hortensia?

3. What best describes Hortensia’s feelings on her wedding day?

4. When does Hortensia tell Mr. Marx she will contact Esme?

5. How does Hortensia treat Innes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Peter feel about Hortensia’s career?

2. Why is Marion surprised by Hortensia’s interaction with Innes?

3. How does Chapter Sixteen show Marion develop?

4. Why did Hortensia never confront Peter about the affair?

5. How does Hortensia’s confession about Peter’s illegitimate child bring the women closer together?

6. What causes Hortensia to “begin to hate”?

7. Why does Hortensia slap Marion?

8. Why is the fact that Hortensia had an abortion significant?

9. What motivates Hortensia to contact Esme?

10. How does Agnes ultimately feel about Marion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The reader never sees Peter or Max in the present tense. Why do you think the author chose to relegate the husbands to flashbacks only?

Essay Topic 2

At the beginning of the novel Marion is undoubtedly racist, but by the end of the novel she admits to having a problem. How and why does Marion change? Do you think this change will last? Provide evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

How do the flashback scenes serve the overall narrative of the novel? What information do we learn from these scenes?

(see the answer keys)

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